By Lester Williams Jr, Contributing Writer
Black Friday is an event that has caught the attention of many Americans due to its low prices, retail profits, and the chaos it creates. This holiday comes right between the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons and is known for its title, which has a unique origin.
The name Black Friday originates from Philadelphia where the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army would have a football game the day after Thanksgiving Day. The audience at the game led to both increase in retail sales and crime rates, which resulted in the police and retailers giving the event the title Black Friday to reflect the chaos.
Due to the rapid growth in sales during the event, Black Friday has grown into one of the busiest days of the year for shopping.
Black Friday has been around since the 18th century. Stores sponsored the Thanksgiving parades then immediately opened their doors after they ended. During the early 20th century, retailers shifting from Thanksgiving right to Christmas became a common retail practice.
The potential profit of Black Friday has become so valuable to retailers that during the 1940s, President Franklin Roosevelt, after being asked by business leaders in 1939, agreed to move the holiday to the fourth Thursday in Nov. in order to give retailers more time to get ready for the Christmas season.
Decades after President Roosevelt shifted Black Friday’s location on the calendar, it has been proven that the right choice was made as Black Friday has become a traditional retail phenomenon.
According to www.waldenu.edu, the success of Black Friday has resulted in millions of shoppers and more than a billion dollars in retail profits.
An example of Black Friday’s achievements can be seen in a report from 2016 which claimed that during Black Friday, 100 million people went to a physical store and nearly 8 billion dollars was spent online.
Even in places like Tampa, Florida, the potential sales for Black Friday have attracted many retailers. For example, during Black Friday, Tampa’s International Plaza and Bay Street, located 2223 North Westshore Boulevard, will temporarily extend its shopping hours.
The students of Saint Leo University were asked what they will be doing on one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Huston Richter, senior and hospitality major, said, “During Black Friday I will either be going shopping or shopping from my phone online.”
Elijah Alderson, sophomore majoring in sports business, said, “I will probably just look around on Black Friday. I usually do all my shopping online for it.”
Although Black Friday has multiple benefits such as good deals, job opportunities, retail profit, and providing both entertainment, and a reason for shoppers to get together with friends and family, the event faces many issues.
Black Friday can result in people overspending. Also, it takes attention away from small businesses. To some people, the event devalues the message of Thanksgiving which is to be grateful for what one has. Also, Black Friday can be dangerous for both shoppers and employees who can end up getting hurt or possibly even killed because people are fighting over products with a low price tag.
Black Friday can also produce a massive amount of waste because of the variety of products being sold. These products are products that shoppers don’t even need, but they buy anyway due to being impulsive. This results from factors such as a fear of losing a good deal.
There is a lot of research concerning the waste production of Black Friday, such as from Professor Phil Purnell, who deals with structures and materials, as well as Dr. Anne Velenturf, whose work involves the Circular Economy.
Together, their research suggests that all the electronic waste produced by households will be recycled with low standards. They also found that about 80 percent of plastic that shoppers buy will go into a landfill, or in an incinerator.
If you are still planning on joining in the chaos after the Thanksgiving feast to get the best deals possible, just remember to stay safe, spend your money wisely, practice social distancing, and be thankful for what you have instead of focusing all your attention on what you can get.
